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Being in good health is personal capital

AprilApr

5

Being in good health is personal capital

Most of us are not saving money just to have more money. We’re thinking of something to spend the money on.When it comes to planning for the future, it’s wise to start saving and investing some of our income at some point. We realise the value of being able to live life to the fullest, also beyond our most active working years. Having a solid financial status helps us choose what we really want to do with our time.

Now, take a moment and think of yourself and your well-being. Think of it as one of your most valuable assets. What would you like your status to be, in years to come? Would you like your health and fitness to increase, or at least keep their value, many years on? Wouldn’t it be great to realise at 50 years of age, that your investment has paid off? That you still have decades of healthy years “in the bank” and it’s only up to you to choose how to spend them?

We all know the facts on how to stay healthy. The real question you need to ask yourself is Why? Why would you want to eat more vegetables, take the stairs instead of the lift, or sleep more? What do you want to do with the hours, days and years that you’re gaining, by living healthy?

At 50, you may still have 25 active working years ahead of you. In fact, many are finding it hard to retire at 60 or 65. More and more people find themselves eager and ready to continue working. Being able to work, and to be considered valuable and relevant is monumental for the overall quality of life. Eila, who started her own company at 67, is one of them. Read her story here (in Finnish).

Of course, it’s not only work that you want to stay fit and healthy for. We all have 24 hours in a day, and work maybe takes up 8 of them. What about the rest of the day? What about weekends and holidays? The quality of life is constructed of not only work, but who we are and what we do the rest of the time. To be able to be there for our family is important. We all want to be able to play with our kids or grandkids, and be present, when they need us. To spend time with our friends, doing something we love, is what makes us happy and keeps us going. Staying healthy, physically and mentally, enables us to continue doing the things we love, even when we grow older. Who says you need to stop wearing heels or quit hiking in the wilderness because you turned 70?

Besides yourself and your loved ones, your employer also benefits from your well-being. You probably need less sick days, which directly saves your employer’s money. You’re probably more productive, motivated and innovative, if you’re both mentally and physically fit. Keeping employees healthy is also in the interest of pension insurance companies. It’s natural for them to pursue employee well-being. Is it their responsibility, though? Some good thoughts on the subject in this blog post (in Finnish).

It’s certainly beneficial for employers to invest in their employees’ well-being, and support the work community in staying healthy. The responsibility and the right mindset should be the individual’s own, though. Being in good health is, after all, personal capital.

The Energy Test is an online tool for corporate wellness testing and reporting.Upgraded Life Festival participants are invited to take the Energy Test online and receive their individual results. The result tells you how many energetic hours and minutes you have in a day. A summary of all participants’ Energy Test results will be published at the ULF.